Victoria cuts public hospital circumcision

From next month, Victoria will be the fourth Australian state to
no longer provide circumcisions at public hospitals for non-medical
reasons.

From September, circumcisions will be performed in Victoria only
where doctors determine there is a need because of concerns over
infections or disease.

NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania have already implemented the
change.

Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews today said there was no
medical evidence to support routine circumcision of newborn
males.

"In Australia and New Zealand, the circumcision rate has fallen
considerably in recent years, and it is estimated that only 10 to
20 per cent of male infants are routinely circumcised," Mr Andrews
said.

"Both nationally and overseas, doctors agree there is no medical
benefit to routine circumcision, and studies show the complication
rate is around five per cent."

Mr Andrews said parents who wish to have their son circumcised
for religious reasons could have the procedure done in private
hospitals.

About 2200 circumcisions were carried out in Victorian public
hospitals in 2005-6, costing about $2 million.

Mr Andrews said that money could be used to fund more urgent
elective surgery procedures.

"It is important to ensure hospital services are prioritised
towards treating patients who have a clinical need for surgery to
improve their health," he said.

While recent studies of African countries suggested circumcision
can reduce the rates of HIV, a report by the World Health
Organisation concluded that in countries such as Australia, where
HIV rates are low in the general population, limited benefit would
result from routine circumcision, according to the Victorian
government.